Method of reclaiming mechanical knitting needles



March 3, 1953 G. L.. HOFMEISTER METHOD OF RECLAIMING MECHANICAL KNITTING NEEDLES March 3, 1953 G. l.. Hol-MEISTER METHOD OF RECLAIMING MECHANICAL KNLTTING NEEDLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1948 JMJ:

INVENTOR- March 3, 1953 G. L. HoFMElsTER METHOD OF RECLAIMING MECHANICAL KNITTING NEEDLES FIG. l0

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 27` k57 moves Filed sept. 27, 194s INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHODV OFVRECLAIMIG KNITTING NEEDLES George L. Hofmeister,v lrooklynyl'sl.` Y

Application September 27, 1948, SeriaI'Noa-MLl-' 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a method of and means for reclaiming damaged steel or alloy needles which have been employed in woolen knitting machines.

Broadly the invention contemplates a method of reclaiming mechanical knitting needles each having a damaged end and an undamaged end in which the needles are assembled in pairs, the damaged ends are cut' off and the undamaged ends are welded together to form reclaimed needles substantially as good as new needles'.

More particularly thev invention comprises a step method of reclaiming mechanical' knitting needles each having a damaged end and an undamaged end in which the needles are manually assembled in pairsand in theA order named engaging them in gripping or holdingmechanism, mechanically carrying them progressively through the steps of mechanically aligning the pairs of needles, cutting off the' damaged ends,

bringing the pairs'o'f remaining undamaged ends f into juxtaposition with each other, weldingV them together, annealing and tempering the Welded portions, grinding or dressing of burrs resulting from the welding; and polish-ing the welded portions', andl meansv for performing the successive steps of the method" of the invention;

An object' of the invention is -t`o provide an effective method of reclaiming damaged mechanicalknitti-'ng needles forl reu-se.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanical means for progressively; performing the several steps ofthe reclaim-ing method in an orderly andi preciselyl uniform manner.

These andi other objects and novel-` features of the invention will be understood' by'referringto the following detailed description together with the gures of the accompanying drawings' illus'- -trati-ng preferred embodiments of the invention and in which drawings :A

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatioalfview in side* elevation of the meansof the invention in whichthe stepsofthe `method are i indicatedat progressively numbered stations.

Fig; 1A i'sa schematical plan-View of aseries of mechanical knitting needles-projected to illustrate the steps: in the4 method. or the invention from the manual insertion` the holding means through the welding step.:A

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view" in elevation oi two undamaged'portions of two needles eachhaving had adanflagedI end, twoundamaged portionsimrmediatel'y` after' welding them' together and a completelyreclaimed'needle'.-

Fig. i Il4 is` an pla-ri view or single piatformas'- 2.V sembly' of au platform` chain which the in-` vent-ioni is. practiced illustrating two needles each having a damaged end. engagedin the holding mechanism.

Fig. i` isa view'taken on the line44-4'fo'f Fig.

5i is a view taken on the lineof Figi. 3?.

Fig. 6vr is a fragmentary viewi'nV plan of a platform assembly anda needle holding mechanism having' a portionA cut away?,A and' showing a needle and 2% Set" 0f conventional? Cutting bldsldt'd Fig. 7'? is a View taken on. the lineY 'l-l of Fig. 6 illustrating in dotted lines a1 cam' for? depressing the electrodes and. a mercury container for completing an electrical connection.l

Fig'. 8 is a view' in` elevation illustrating in dot-- ted liliesV a set` of conventional cutting' blades for shearing l'llieneedles.

Fig. 9 is a viewv takenl o'nline 9`9 of 6` il'- lustratlng certain of the elements iniullll View.r

Fig. l0 is a View taken on line lili-lil of liig".4 9 showing an anchoriscrew' in full view.^

Fig. 1.1i` is a` fragmentary View end elevation ofV a' platform assembly takenv at the endA opposite ot the view of Fig.` 6.

Referring now? to thedrawingszthe step performed" at station numbered l in Fig. 1 two wo-olen knitting machine needles Z and 24, each of which has adamaged end? andan undamaged` endl are!rnam-lall-yV inserted? by the uindamaged` endsinto needle holders 30' and 3f, which: are' shown more inA detail in Fig. 31, Fig.- 4L. and Fig. 5.

InY the` step which is performed at` stationL l shownin Fig. 1` an overhead tri-p mechanism oia.V conventional character e. g1 of the-rockerharm type having a depending contact member, not shown, is provided for pressing against the'- inclined surfaces of trigger members 32? and"l of the needle holders?Sll'andV 31|?, which serves-telde'- pr'ess the trigger members ."12` and 33iinthe-di rection of and against compression springs 4'6 and 4i and the trigger members 324 andi: 33Jrocls ing upon pins q2' and 43f serve-td litt bearing" pins 35, `35, and 36, :it which areattacheditothe plate portions 3l and@ 38 oftl'i'e trigger members; 32 and 33. fantaisie` adjusting nuts. lulL and 45- are provided for cooperating with the tlire'adedY ends of core rods 463 and 41 whose ends opposite the threaded ends are rigidly attachedy to plate mein; bers 48` andY 49', for regulating thetension'in compression springs 40' andi 4l i whicht bear against the returnends of' yokeor housing' members 5U and 5l' to whichV U`- members Z6? and FI arerigi'dly at'- tached respectively by set screws? 28ans? 2-9 and which'- inft'urn are anchored respectively tio-plates 3 68 and 69. The threaded ends of the core rods 46 and 41 are shaped convexly and spherically so that they may rock freely in spherical concavities in the trigger members 32 and 33 against which they bear.

When the trigger members 32 and 33 are rocked upon the pins 42 and 43 the core rods 46 and 41 are moved against the compression springs 46 and 4| thus compressing them and increasing the tension, and at the same time the plates 4S and 49 are brought to bear forcibly against lock nuts 52, 52, and 53, 53, which cooperate with the threaded ends of link rods 54, 54, and 55, 55 before the movement of the trigger members 32 and 33 is complete. The movement of the trigger membres 32 and 33 is completed after the plates 48 and 49 are brought to bear against the nuts 52, 52, and 53, 53 which (being attached thereto) serve to move the link rods 54, 54, and 55, 55, and whose ends opposite the threaded ends being attached to securing plates 56 and 51 serve to move the securing plates 56 and 51 slightly before the movement of the trigger members 32 and 33 is completed. The slight movement of the securing plates 56 and 51 may be adjusted by positioning the nuts 52, 52, and 53, 53, upon the cooperative ends of the link rods 54, 56, and 55, 55, so as to provide sufcient space or clearance beH tween the securing plates 56 and 51, and the respective companion (xed) securing plates 58 and 59 to permit the insertion of the needles 26 and 2| therebetween.

The securing plates 56 and 51 are supported by screws 66, 66 and 6I, 6| from the ends of the link rods 54, 54 and 55, 55 beneath outturned portions of the skirt of the yoke or housing members 56 and 5I, and which outturned portions serve as track-like supports for the link rods 54, 51%, and 55, 55 and the securing plates 56 and 51. Compression springs 62, 62, and 63, 63, are mounted upon core rods 64, 64 and 65, 65, each having one end threaded and adjusting nuts 66, 6G, and 61, 61, mounted thereupon, and which ends bear against the securing plates `56 and 51, the other ends being slidably mounted in holes provided in depending portions of the return ends of the yokes or housing members 56 and 5 I.

From the foregoing detailed description it may .be seen that when the trigger members 32 and 33 are rocked upon the pins 42 and 43 the needle holders 36 and 3| are opened to receive the needles 26 and 2 I, and thereafter when the trigger members 32 and 33 are released the compression springs 62, 62, and 53, 63, act to press the securing plates 56 and 51 against the needles 26 and 2| and the needles against the xed securing plates 58 andY 53, thereby securing the needles laterally, and that the springs 4i! and il act to forcibly depress the bearing pins 35, 35, and 36, 3E, upon the needles 26 and 2| thereby securing them vertically against table plates 68 and S3. Moreover when the needles are manually inserted the curved ends of the hooks on the needles serve to force upwardly suitable latches 22 and 23 which are rotatably pinned to stop members 2li and 25 and which latches will drop back into place when the hook portions of the needles have cleared them to thereby secure the needles 26 and 2| longitudinally.

Table plate 69 which has the trigger member 33 mounted on it, is rigidly secured to a frame plate 16 which is cut out about the center section for lightness and to permit dropping therethrough the damaged ends of the needles when they are Aout od. The table plate 66 which has the trigger member 32 mounted on it is slidably secured by track strips 1I and 12 to the frame plate 16. Electrically conductive members 13 and 14 made preferably of springy plate metal or alloy capable of being depressed at a proper stage during the cycle of the method and later when released will spring back into the relative positions shown in Fig. '4, are provided with electrode members 15 and 13 which are secured thereto and whose function will be disclosed completely hereinafter.

The entire platform assembly illustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is typical of a number' of such platform assemblies which are attached together by hinges 11, 16, 16, and 36, thereby to form a continuous platform chain as illustrated in Fig. l which is appropriately mounted upon a frame of a frequently used type of construction consisting of structural shapes, such as angle iron, vertical and horizontal supporting members with the customary cross bracing bars secured together for rigidity, and provided with appropriate bearing members (not shown), and hexagonal or Octagonal supporting members supported in said bearing members and which in turn are adapted to support and when rotated, to move the platform chain step by step in the practice of the method of the present invention.

When the functions of the rst step of the method have been completed in the stage as shown at station I in Fig. l which comprises mechanically opening the needle holders 36 and 3| and manually inserting two needles 26 and 2| with their damaged ends turned inwardly as shown in Fig. lA and thereafter releasing the overhead trip mechanism (previously described but not shown) for opening the needle holders 33 and 3| thereby permitting them to grip the needles 26 and 2|, an electric motor II is started and acting through a system of gears in a gear box l2, a cam i3, a companion gear I4, a shaft I5, a pinion I6 and a gear I1 mounted upon a shaft I8 upon which the hexagonal supporting member 6i is also mounted, the hexagonal member 6I is caused to rotate one sixth of a turn to thereby advance the entire platform chain a distance equal to the width of one platform. While a hexagonal supporting member 8| is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that an octagonal or for that matter a circular supporting member may be employed if more suitable for a given operation.

The second step in the method which is performed at station 2 when the platform chain is advanced one platform width comprises a mechanical alignment in preparation for cutting off the damaged ends of the needles 26 and 2|. The immediate invention further contemplates suitable mechanism of a conventional character for performing the aligning. The aligning itself consists mainly of regulating precisely the extent of the projection of the damaged ends of the needles 26 and 2| inwardly from the holders 3i) and 3l so as to place them in exactly the proper relative location for being cut off. It is extremely important that just a suicient amount of stock be left on the undamaged ends of the needles to compensate for that portion which is fused and lost when they are welded together so as to pro-- duce a reclaimed needle that will be of an exactly required length.

Following the aligning step the platform chain is advanced and at station 3 the damaged ends of the needles are cut oil" mechanically. In this step also this invention contemplates the employment of a suitable mechanism of conventional character. Actually any conventional mechanical shears adapted for cutting the needles may be employed, e. g. one comprising two small tool steel plates preferably matched as to shape, each having a slot in one of its edges matching a slot in the other adapted to receive a needle, whose contiguous edges produce a combined twisting and shearing action upon a needle as they are rotated relative to each other when using the needle engaged in the slots as axis. After the cutting olf is performed the remaining undamaged ends of the needles are in substantially the relative position as shown for this stage inFig. lA.

In the next stage, i. e. at station fl, the step ci bringing the inner' ends of the needles into contact is accomplished by mechanically sliding the slidable table plate SB having the needle holder 3B mounted upon it a predetermined distance toward the fixed table plate El? having the needle holder 3| mounted upon it. In this step also the invention contemplates the employment of a suitable mechanism of conventional design for sliding the table plate Sil' but a relatively simple system may be provided which is adapted to be actuated by the motor il so as to be timed in coordination with the. movement of the platform chain as it is advanced through the several steps or the method of this invention. For example a conventional. cam system actuated by the motor il and simultaneously with cani is, may engage with and move a table plate St toward a table plate Si) at station il, while engaging with and moving another table plate @il away from another table plate il@ at a station X directly below station t. The amount of movement oi thetable plate til must of necessity be accurately regulated so that` unii'ormity of length of reclaimed needles may be attained as explained above.

In the next stage in which the step of welding the needle ends together is tov be performed at station ii, guides or cams 95 and companion guides or earns situated at opposite ends of platforms (not shown) engaged the electrically conductive members 'i3 and le and electrodes l5 and 16 :and the electrode points are brought into contact. with mercury baths @l and companion mercury baths situated at opposite ends of platforms (not shown) or other suitable electrical conductors (not shown) which are connected at opposite poles with a suitable electrical source (not shown). The members 'i3 and 'M are secured to plates S8 and t9 respectively through electrically conductive filler plates 9i and 92, and U plates S3 and lili. rihe securing plates 56 5T, 58 and 59 and the table plates t3 and 5S ,arel preferably formed of electrically conductive metal or alloy and thus serve to conduct the electrical current neccessary for welding together the contiguous ends of the needles 2li and 2l when in ordinary practice the current is turned on by conventional mechanically timed switching apparatus (not shown) e. g. a multiple control clocking mechanism having electrical contact points. Inasmuch. as the welding operation requires only momentary contact the current is turned on and quickly off while the needle ends are held together, to thereby perform the welding. The timing in this step is coordinated with, but preferably independent of the movement of the platform chain. The frame plate ll! is preferably formed of non-conductive material.

In the next stage the step of annealing the weld is performed at station 6. The welded portion of the needle which still is secured in the needle holders and 3| and in contact with members 5E, 51, 58, 59, 58, and 69 which are electrically connected to opposite poles of an electrical source (not shown) as previously explained is subjected to timed heating as previously described in connection with the welding step, after the platform chain is brought to a stop in this stage. The temperature to which the needle is subjected and the length of time of the treatment in this stage may be regulated by the multiple control mechanically timed switching apparatus (not shown) previously described in accordance with good practice. The timing of the heat treatment in this step is preferably coordinated with but independent of the timing of step movements of the platform chain.

In the next stage the step of tempering is per formed at station l. In this step also the welded portion of the needle which still is secured in the needle holders 30 and 3| is again subjected to timed heating in a manner such as described in the preceding stage after the platform chain is brought to a stop. Here also the heating is timed by multiple control means (not shown). Ordinarily the tempering `step `may require somewhat higher temperature and shorter time interval than the annealing step requires and in this step also the timing is preferably coordinated with the movement of the platform chains, but independent thereof.

In one sequence of steps which may be selected in the practice of the invention immediately the platform Ichain is advanced a step and brought to a stop the electrical current may be switched on to perform the heating in the tempering step and then switched ofi and as the current is switched off in this step it may be switched on in the annealing step, :and immediately the proper heat soaking in that step is completed the current be switched olf and immediately thereafter be switched on momentarily and then off in the welding stage. The sequence as related is' set forth for the reason that since the higher temperature is required for the tempering step it will taire a somewhat longer time to quench and cool the needle, while inthe annealing step a lower temperature `but somewhat longer soaking time is required and the needle may be transierred immediately from the heat soaking in the annealing step to the tempering step and preferably without' the necessity of allowing any time for cooling.. Moreover since the welding step is accomplished so rapidly and at the highest temperature, and after which the needle is to be subjected at once to annealing the move from the wielding to the :annealing step may be made at once the welding is completed. Further,y it is to be seen that time for proper treatment in the 'tempering step is provided during the performance of the successive annealing and welding. An added advantage of course isv that the electrical load requirements are kept to a minimum by performing the steps separately and successively as described.

The. foregoing descriptionand the.` order of steps asset forth therein is given for the particular purpose of clarifying the method of the invention and it is pointed out now that no limitation to the method is intended by the order set forth. For example it may be perceived readily that in the several steps described those of annealing and tempering require the longest time interval while al1 of the other steps may be accomplished in relatively short time. Therefore the step movements of the entire platform chain may be speeded `up over the sequence foregoingly cle-.-

Ascribed by performing the annealing and tempering steps each simultaneeously and continuously throughout two or more movements of the platform chain, thereby to double or more the actual rate of reclamation or output in the practice of the invention. To further exemplify, the actual time required to perform the annealing or tempering'step may be as long as six seconds while all of the other steps may be performed in one second each. Thus if following the sequence as foregoingly described in detail in which the performance of each step was described as being accomplished lcompletely in one step movement of the platform chain the output rate would be one needle reclaimed each six seconds. On the other hand if the annealing step and thfe temper- .ing step were tc be accomplished in two or three step movements of the platform chain then the output rate would become one needle reclaimed ea-ch three seconds or each two seconds as the case may be.

It has been stated previously herein that following the cutting step the slidable plate 6B was moved mechanically toward the xed plate Si! so as to bring the needle ends into contact. Following the ejection step which is performed at station 8 Yas shown in Fig. '1 where the needle holders 3D and 3l are mechanically tripped (by means similar to those previously described but not shown) to release the needles the platforms of the platform chain are continuously moved step by step and each is returned nally to station i to begin a new cycle. During the return movement the slidable plate 653 is preferably moved away from the fixed plate 69 so as to prepare the platform assembly for receiving other damaged needles in the initial stage of the processing according to the invention. Such movement of the plate 58 is preferably performed mechanically (by means previously described but not shown) at a point X approximately opposite vertically where another slidable plate 68 of another platform assembly at station il is moved toward another xed plate G9 as previously described. Such point for the mechanical return movement of the slidable plate t8 is selected so that the same cam system (not shown) which is employed to move the upper slidable plate 63 in one direction may be employed to move the lower slidable plate 58 in a reverse direction. A.

l Following the' tempering step at station 'l of Fig. 1 the platform assemblies of the platform chain are moved by steps around the hexagonal (or octagonal or circular) support 82 and at station 8 the needles are ejected mechanically by ery wheel instead of a rotary cutter over which the needles are passed manually first one side `and then another until all burrs are dressed off.

From the grinding step the needles are delivered to a polishing mechanism indicated at station l0 where the needles are subjected to a polishing in the area of the weld on a machine of a kind similar to or on the same machine as the grinding operation is performed in which a polishing or bung element is employed, so as to render them smooth and which nal step has the effect of producing a reclaimed needle which has the appearance and the quality of a new needle.

From the foregoing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims, it will become obvious to one skilled in the art, that other embodiments and slight variations in the method disclosed may be employed without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. The method of reclaiming mechanical knitting needles each having a damaged end and an undamaged end which comprises assembling the damaged needles and arranging them in pairs, placing the needles manually in holding means, and thereafter aligning the needles with appropriate relationship to each other preparatory to cutting of the damaged ends, cutting olf the damaged ends, bringing the ends of the remaining portions of the needles into contact with each other and welding said ends together to thereby form a new undamaged needle.

2. The method of reclaiming mechanical knitting needles each having a damaged end and an undamaged end which comprises assembling the damaged needles and arranging them in pairs, placing the needles manually in holding means, and thereafter aligning the needles with appropriate relationship to each other preparatory to cutting of the damaged ends, cutting off the damaged ends, bringing the ends of the remaining portions of the needles into contact with each other, welding said ends together, subjecting the welded needle to an annealing and tempering treatment to thereby form a new undamaged needle.

3. The method of reclaiming mechanical knitting needles each having a damaged end and an undamaged end which comprises assembling the damaged needles and arranging them in pairs, placing the needles manually in holding means, and thereafter aligning the needles with appropriate relationship to each other prepara'- tory to cutting of the damaged ends, cutting off ,the damaged ends, bringing the ends of the re- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,867,345 Andrus c July l2, 1932 2,37 6,931 Matson May 29, 1945 

